Letters to the editor - 2

Many of the citizens of Alvin have written letters to the editors of the local newspapers favoring the Alvin ISD Bond and encouraging everyone to vote in favor of this bond. We'll be publishing a few of them here, in case you missed them.

September 25, 2013

Dear Editor,

 Alvin ISD has a bond election coming up on November 5, 2013, with early voting starting on October 21. I hope you will join me in voting YES for this important bond issue. Many have asked “what if we do nothing?”  Based upon the current growth in student enrollment and the projections of more students coming, Alvin ISD will gain more that 3200 new students before new and/or additional facilities would be available if this bond issue is not passed this year. Each year that it is delayed, Alvin ISD is projected to add another 800 students (that is equivalent to an elementary school a year).  If the bond issue does not pass, prolonged use of temporary buildings will be necessary and their  use can be as much as $35,000 per unit. Building permanent classroom space keeps the district from spending money for the same space multiple times. Also if it does not pass, adjusting student attendance zones will become necessary as schools exceed their capacity, which requires additional bussing of students. Many campuses are already over capacity and more campuses will become overcrowded if the bond issue is not passed this year. Security concerns that can only be addressed with extensive facility and equipment improvements are best provided with bond funds, so not passing this bond issue limits what the district can do in terms of providing needed safety projects. A successful bond issue this year is the fastest way to address safety concerns which are priorities. Consider too, that if this bond issue does not pass, teachers will have limited resources to incorporate technology into instruction as they prepare our students for this digital society.  Providing additional facilities for Career and Technical (vocational) Education is critical and if the bond issue does not pass, course offerings and the district’s ability to offer industry skills and certification programs will be limited. With the resurgence of the construction industry and the potential increase in interest rates, facility costs will be impacted if the bond issue is not passed. It’s also very possible that class size and teacher-student ratios could be impacted if it does not pass. There are even more issues that are a stake if this bond issue does not pass, but I think you get the picture. This bond issue is critical to this community, to our school district, to our kids and to their future. Please join me in voting YES on November 5 (or at an early voting location beginning October 21). It’s what’s best for kids and what’s best for our community. 

David Becker

Alvin ISD Trustees call school bond election

In a 5-2 vote, Alvin ISD Trustees called a $212,445,000 school bond election at a special meeting of the Board on August 8. Board President Tiffany Wennerstrom and Vice President Regan Metoyer, along with Trustees Cheryl Harris, Charles McCauley and Nicole Tonini voted in favor of the election.  Mike Lansford and Sue Stringer voted to oppose the election.  Bond projects will include investments in new schools, technology, transportation, facility upgrades and enhanced security features for district campuses. The proposal will go before voters on November 5.

Contents of the school bond package were recommended by the Citizen’s Advisory Committee consisting of parents, local citizens, and school staff.   David Becker, CAC co-chair shared, “we worked long and hard for about six months to figure out the best options to address the fast growth that our school district is experiencing.”

The recommended package consists of funds designated for the District’s third high school campus, which will accommodate 2,500 students; a new elementary campus (number 16), which would hold 800 students; a replacement of Longfellow Elementary, land and design for elementary number 17 and 18; a new junior high school in the Manvel area, which would hold 1,000 students; renovation and expansion of Alvin Junior High; land for junior high number seven; design and related costs for a new Career and Technical Education Facility, and a new Godwin Ag Facility, which will increase opportunities for instructional access. Campus safety and security projects, such as securing entrances on select campuses, upgrading communication systems and surveillance cameras would also be funded by the project. Additional school buses will be purchased, technology enhanced, along with upgrades for mechanical, electrical, HVAC and other campus improvements. The bond will also allow for land and design of a facility that would accommodate an additional District athletic stadium, a satellite transportation facility, and a District Natatorium which will be located separately from high school #3.

“The Board chose to allocate $8.4 million from available fund balance and $3.46 million from current maintenance and operations funds to cover CAC recommended projects with shorter life expectancy such as band uniforms, buses and technology,” stated Tommy King, deputy superintendent of business.  $28,095,000 of authorized, yet unissued bond funds, available from the 2009 bond referendum will also be utilized to fund bond projects.

“Student enrollment has been steadily increasing in Alvin ISD and according to Templeton Demographics the District should expect to see a continued increase of approximately 800 students a year for the next five years,” said Dr. Fred Brent, superintendent of schools. “We are a dynamic learning organization committed to excellence for all students and every program, and we must prepare for the continued growth of our District; in order to ensure that the students of Alvin ISD continue to receive the best educational opportunities possible.”

The majority of the Trustees vocalized their support for the election during the special meeting.   All of the Citizen’s Advisory Committee recommendations are included in the bond projects and a community survey administered by an Austin based company in June also supported the bond projects.  “Now it is up to the voters,” said Tiffany Wennerstrom, president Alvin ISD Board of Trustees.

Additional information about the bond election is available on the Alvin ISD website. In addition, information will be distributed to taxpayers and presentations will be conducted throughout the community in the upcoming weeks. Early voting will be available beginning Monday, October 21 until November 1 at several locations throughout the District. Applications for voting by mail should be received after September 6 and before October 25. 

In order to vote in the 2013 school bond election, citizens must be registered to vote by October 7, as November 5 is Election Day. For additional information, visit www.alvinisd.net or call 281-388-1130.

CAC Recommendations

Alvin ISD Citizen's Advisory Committee makes recommendations of future bond projects to the Alvin ISD Board of Trustees, including a call for the construction of High School #3 in the Shadow Creek Ranch (Pearland) area.

In an effort to involve members of the community in planning for the future of Alvin ISD, a group of approximately 60 Alvin/Manvel/Pearland citizens, including parents, business leaders, District personnel, as well as a local councilman served on the Citizen’s Advisory Committee (CAC).

The CAC has worked diligently over the past seven months conducting intensive studies of historical demographic data, student enrollment, growth trends, facility needs, and development plans within the community. The purpose of the CAC was to evaluate the need for and the scope of a future bond referendum, and make recommendations for facilities that consider the educational needs of all students, provide a solution for facility needs brought on by the District’s growth, is fiscally sound, and reflects community wants and needs.

After receiving the results from the community phone survey that was recently conducted to obtain feedback from Alvin ISD citizens, the committee met on June 16 and determined that a recommendation in favor of a future bond referendum be made to the Board of Trustees.

The committee, who were charged by the Board of Trustees to establish recommended projected for facilities and land purchases, was led by co-chairs David Becker, Alvin High School parent, and Paul Ingamells, Shadow Creek Ranch resident and parent.  “Over the past five years, Alvin ISD enrollment has increased by an average of 800-900 students per year, and is projected to continue for the next five years. In 2011 the CAC recommended that the District not move forward with a bond referendum due to the economic climate, which in turn has increased the current needs of the District,” said Becker.

During the 2013-14 school year it is expected that six elementary campuses, Alvin Elementary, Hood-Case, Mason, Savannah Lakes, Stevenson and Wilder will exceed permanent building capacity. Three elementary campuses, Jeter, Marek, & Twain Elementary will exceed flex capacity. During the upcoming school year Alvin Junior High will exceed permanent building capacity, and Nolan Ryan Junior High will exceed both permanent and flex capacity. Manvel High School will also exceed permanent and flex capacity with continuing growth also anticipated.

Due to sustained growth, the CAC recommended that a new elementary (number 16) be built, that Longfellow Elementary be replaced, and that in light of rising land costs, the District prepare for continued growth by purchasing land and design for elementary number 17, and land for elementary number 18. The CAC also recommended that a new junior high school be built in the Manvel area, that Alvin Junior High School be renovated and expanded, and that the District purchase land for junior high number seven.

In addition the CAC also suggested that high school number three be built on the previously purchased land from the 2009 bond in the Pearland area, as well as provide funds for the design of a future Career and Technical Education Facility, along with the building of a new agriculture facility in closer proximity to Alvin High School. Other recommendations include funding for campus safety and security projects, additional school buses, technology needs, upgrades for campus and facility improvements, band instruments for all secondary campuses, and the purchasing of land and design for a future facility that would accommodate an additional District athletic stadium, satellite transportation facility and a District Natatorium (The current Manvel High School campus and future High School Number 3 campus do not have a varsity competition football stadium or natatorium.)

“We are truly appreciative of each of the citizens who came together to form the CAC, and provided the Board of Trustees with recommendations. I am confident that the CAC recommendations took into consideration the District’s increasing student population.  As a Board, we will carefully consider each of their recommendations,” said Tiffany Wennerstrom, Alvin ISD Board of Trustees president.

“On behalf of the CAC, we appreciate the Board for entrusting this committee of community members to conduct an in-depth study and bring recommendations to the Board,” mentioned Ingamells.

The final decision for a future bond referendum and the projects that it will contain is at the sole discretion of the AISD Board of Trustees. The Board will convene by August to determine if a November election will indeed be held. To stay informed of the most up-to-date information in regards to the growth of Alvin ISD, and a possible bond election visit www.alvinisd.net.